Expected that FAU will slip into 2019. Many did not see ILSAC GF-6 being ready for MY 2019 vehicles.

Infineum said it felt the new categories need a minimum life of four to five years to justify the significant investment all stakeholders must make.

Category Life Oversight Group (CLOG) continued to plan ways to sustain older categories once the current legacy tests become unavailable. Provisional Licensing Guidelines for the current possible situations if more than one test is unavailable were being drafted to maintain the current API specifications and allow marketers to license oils against the current performance categories.

Test development continued to move forward slowly, but timing for ILSAC GF-6 was unclear and it appeared first allowable use (FAU) could slip into 2019 if any test experienced a significant delay.

Noted that it was essential for industry to get the tests right so that ILSAC GF-6 would provide the required performance and to avoid the need to develop ‘GF-6 plus’ type products immediately after the launch of ILSAC GF-6.

The slow pace of test development and approval delayed the new category and first allowable use was not expected before Q4 2018. However, the new Sequence IIIH was in place with official registration set to begin. The Sequence VIE test was accepted by the Surveillance Panel.

Concern was expressed over the upcoming unavailability of Sequence VID and IIIG and the impact on sustaining the ILSAC GF-5 and API SN categories.

Industry stakeholders acknowledged that delay was inevitable and worked to define a new timeline. This was a significant concern for OEMs who wanted to use ILSAC GF-6 technology for their MY 2019 engines. Not all tests had started precision matrix work, and the ones that had were not without concern.

Precision matrices began for the chain wear, Sequence VIE and LSPI tests. The Sequence VG-A was expected to be ready by May 2016. The MHT-4 test was removed from the ILSAC GF-6 specification. ILSAC decided that only SAE 0W-16 would be allowed as an ILSAC grade for ILSAC GF-6.

Slow progress continued. The number of new tests meant industry was dealing with some significant test issues, which were expected to further delay the category. The Sequence IIIH test completed its matrix, but the results raised concerns over precision and acceptability. Sequence VIII unexpectedly hit an issue with a new lead bearing batch.

API was concerned about the high probability that up to four tests (VID, IIG, IIIF and VG) could become unavailable by 2016.

Timing slipped to April 1 2018. Real issues and debates arose concerning some of the new tests and only the Sequence IIIH had started its precision matrix. Fuel issues postponed the new Sequence VH test to after ILSAC GF-6 first allowable use. New issue reported, which concerned fuel economy requirements for the ILSAC GF-6B (SAE XW-16) specification. Task force formed to address precision and reliability concerns for the NOACK test for volatility

The memorandum of agreement for the precision matrices of the Sequence IIIH, IVB, VH, VIE, Chain Wear and LSPI tests was signed by all parties.

Acknowledged that, for at least some of the tests, it would be hard to achieve the end of second quarter 2014 target date for beginning precision matrix testing.

Infineum suggested it would be a disservice to the industry if ILSAC GF-7 had to be introduced early because of a rush to poor decisions with ILSAC GF-6. Also recognised that introducing new products would add logistic complexity and suggested it might be time for legacy products to be retired.

Funding for precision matrices had not been finalised. With all the new tests, and escalating costs of engine testing in general, it was suggested that ILSAC GF-6 testing could cost up to $8 million dollars.

The SAE J-300 standard was officially modified and issued in April to include the new SAE 16 viscosity grade, which for the first time defined an SAE grade below 2.6 cP minimum HTHS viscosity. Infineum stressed the importance of retaining a nine month gap between the release of ILSAC GF-6 and PC-11 and predicted at least a three month delay.

Industry agreed to push back the timing of ILSAC GF-6 until September 30 2016. Two key focus areas were Sequence IIIG development and LSPI test development. Development of Sequence VH, VIE, IVB were moving along at an acceptable pace.

Selection and acceptance of a new oxidation/deposit test and the management of SAE 0W-16 oils were the key issues.

June 2012

Mixed progress on test development. Sequence VH, VID and IVA were proceeding on schedule. But uncertainty about the Sequence IIIG replacement. ILSAC decided not to lower the Noack requirement from 15% to 13% maximum.